1Inst of Horticultural Research, Bangalore.
2S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupathi, A. P.
College of Agriculture, A. P. Agricultural University, Hyderabad-30
*A part of M.Sc. (Ag.) thesis submitted by the Sr. author to A. P. Agril. University during 1970.
In order to compare the major nutrient (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) contents of the petioles and leaf blades and to draw a relationship between the individual contents of petioles and leaf blades 29 samples, each of petioles and leaf blades were analysed. Petioles contained more phosphorus and potassium than the leaf blades, whereas, leaf blades contained more nitrogen, calcium and Magnesium, when compared to the petioles. Increase in the petiole content was positively associated with the leaf blade content with regard to all the nutrients. Any amount of increase in the leaf blade nitrogen was associated with the proportionate increase in the petiole nitrogen, but increase over 0.19 per cent P, 0.65 per cent K, 0.8 per cent Ca and 0.325 per cent Mg in the leaf blades, reflected more in petioles than in the leaf blades. When analytical values fall below these limits, leaf blades are to be used. If they exceed these limits, petioles are to be used for diagnostic purposes.
